Safety container for merchandise



Jun 3, 1947.

J. A. BEN-rz SAFETY CONTAINER FOR MERCHANDISE Filed April `1'7, 1945 2 Sheets-Shes?. l

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INVENTOR. B072 Z BYpa/w/L Y ATTORNEYS.

June 3, 1947. J; A. BENVTZ SAFETY CONTAINER FOR MERCHANDISE Filed April 17, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. B622 Z ATTORNEYS Patented June 3, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ,2,421,678 SAFETY CONTAINER Foa MERCHANDISE John A. Bentz, Harrisburg, Pa. Appiication April 17, 1945, serial No. 588,787

'4 Claims. (Cl. 232-41) y This `invention relates to improvements in means for maintaining merchandise such as milk bottles, in a sanitary and theft-proof condition.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved container having means i 'for maintaining merchandise, such as bottles of milk in a sanitary locked position against possibility of breakage; the container embodying means by which the delivery agent may properly remove empties from the container and replace the merchandise within the container under such circumstances that the container will automatically lock the merchandise against the possibility of theft of either the merchandise or the container.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view taken thru the improved container showing the same in locked position; the dot and dash lines showing the relation which merchandise, such as a bottle of milk, will assume under such circumstances.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken thru the improved container and its associated parts showing the manner in which an empty bottle will be positioned by the servant or housewife, within the container, so that the delivery man may readily remove the same and place the merchandise within the container under such circumstances that it will assume the position in Figure l and automatically lock the container.

Figure 3 is a the closure open.

Figure 4 is a side view of the container. Figure 5 is a rear view of thecontainer showing the locking means.

Figure 6 is a modified form of invention showu ing how the container should be constructed to `receive more than one article of merchandise.

In the drawings the letter A may generally designate the improved device. It consistsof a container or receptacle B having a closure C and locking means D associated therewith. The improveddevice is adapted to be mounted upon some framework portion of the house in such manner that it will cooperate with a swinging door or closure F in the locking of the entire container against removal from the frame E.

'I'he container or receptacle B may assume various forms.' Merely for the purpose of illustration I have vshown a cylindrical casing body IIJ plan View of the container with having a bottom wall structure Il of any ap- 55 `of the frame E upon which the proved nature. The closure Cl is pivoted at I2 at the top of the body l Il, at what would normally be the front of the container so that the closure C will swing to a closing position in the direction container is adapted to be detachably mounted.

The body I 0 is provided with a vertically positioned casing extension which may be secured to the body l0 in any approved manner and which houses the locking means D above described. This casing extension 20 is rather narrow and includes a rear `wall 2| provided with an opening 22`therein. The frame E, which may be a stationary part of the building` `adjacent the swinging `closure or door F, is preferably provided with brackets 24 and 25, located one above the other in vertical alignment. These vertical brackets are of the upwardly facing socket type and the upper bracket 25 slips thru the opening 22 to'socket the casing wall 2| therein, as shown in Figures 1 andl 2 of the drawings; the` lower socket 24 receiving the lower portion of the wall, since the casing 20 may be opened at its bottom, at least to the extent of permitting insertion of the portion of the bracket 24 shown in the drawings. In this manner the container B may be supported upon the frame E with its bottom preferably spaced slightly from the oor structure 30, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, or the brackets may be so arranged that the bottom will `rest upon the door when the container is hooked in the bracket. This arrangement of the casing 120 may be departed from, since it is entirely possible to make the casing extension 2U entirely imperforate and place brackets and studs thereon for cooperation with slotted means or other structure in the framework E; it merely being necessary that some means properly support thecontainer upon the frame.

The locking means D preferably comprises a vertically positioned locking bar 5l] which is pivoted at`5| upon a pintle secured in the side walls of the casing extension 20. The upper end of the lockingibar is provided with a detent 52 adapted to cooperate with a catch extension .54 secured upon the outer end of the closure C. This catch extension 54 is positioned to extend into the upper end of the casing extension 20 when the closure C is shut, in the relation shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

A controlling member 55 is provided for oo operation with the locking bar or member 50. This member 55 is pivoted at 55 upon the body l0 of the container B at the lower end thereof and the body I is apertured so that this pivot point is about tangential to the external surface of the body l0. The lever 55 has a main body portion 51 extending into the container B as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, and it has an angled cam extension 60 thereon projecting into the lower end of the casing 20 where it will cooperate with the lower end of the lock bar 50.

As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the controlling member 55 when swung upwardly and resting against an empty bottle, shown by full lines at 65 in Figure 2, will cam the lower end of the lock bar 50 into such-position that the detent end 52 will be spaced out of the path of the catch 54 and the closure C may be opened.

In locking position the merchandise 65, which may be a full bottle oi" milk, rests upon the body 51 of the controlling member 55 and in this position the cam end 60 is withdrawn so that the normal upward weighted end of the lock bar 50'will swing to yarlocking position with respect to thecatc'h 54, as shown in Figure 1.

With respect to locking of the container against unauthorized detachment from the frame E, the door F may Ybe provided with a restraining bracketll. T-he contain-er body l0 is provided with complementary bracket extensions 1| at diametrically opposed .points thereon, so that it is immaterial Whether the device is used VWith a right or left swinging door.

When the containerBvis` in fully socketed position upon the brackets 24 and 25 of the frame E, the extension of the bracket 'l'will lie above the extension 'H so that the container cannot be lifted from Vthe frame E until the door Fis swung open.

Referring to the operation of the device,rthe servant or housewife willswing the controlling member 55 to the up posi-tion shown in Figure 2. This is accomplished thru the lever ends 12 of the pivot Vpin 56., which extend at both sides of the casing Vstructure 2d, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, so that it is immaterial whether the container is used at the right or left. With the controlling `member in this position, the empty bottle 65 is placed in the container. This, of course, cams the lock bar il] to the position shown in Figure 2'.- The container B is then hung upon the brackets 2'4 and 2-5 -and the door F is shut. This locks the container in position against unauthorized detachment from the frame E. The delivery man may then readily open the closure C and place the article of merchandise 65 therein. -As the empty bottle 65 is removed, the weighted lever 51 of the control member55 will drop tothe position shown in Figure 1-. The lock bar D, since it is Weighted at its upper end for swinging in the direction of the frame E, will then move to the position shown in Figure 1 and when the closure C is shut, the `catch 54 .will cam beneath the detent 52 into locking position of the closure, as shown in Figure l.

As shown in Figure 6, more than one bottle or article of merchandise may be placed in the cabinet. In this form the articles are placed side `by side, but it is entirely possible to superpose the bottles or articles one upon the other, since this only requires a vertical enlargement of the container and the locking arrangement.

If it is desired to use the container Without association with the framework and door structure of the building, the casing may be entirely enclosed, but in this event a key mechof invention anism will have to be provided upon the closure for swinging the lock bar 5U from the locked position shown in Figure 1 to the unlocked position shown in Figure 2 when the servant or housewife desires to remove the merchandise.

In the example shown, a knob may be provided upon the upper end of the lock rod or bar 50 which is opposite an opening 8| so that the servant or housewife may readily insert a finger to push the lock bar to the position shown in Figure 2 and remove the merchandise.

A bail 84 may be placed upon the container `for carrying the same.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form herein shown and described, withoutv departingfrom the spirit of the invention or thesco'pe of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a receptacle for holding articles of merchandise such as milk bottles against /unauthorizedr removal, the combinationof a container, a closure pivoted upon thetop of the container, a closure lock-ing member pivoted intermediate its ends and extend-ing vertically along the container, detent means at the upperren'd of said member 'for locking the closure, a-member pivotedY at the lower end ofthe container and: extending into the containervior cooperative engagement with an article of merchandise such as a bottle of milk placed therein, andcam means u-pon said last-named member for throwing the locking member to an unlocking position,

2. a receptacle for holding articlesof merchandise such as milk bottles against unauthorized removal, the combination of a container, a closure pivoted upon the top of the container, a locking member pivoted intermediate its ends and extending vertically along the container, detent means at the upper end of said member for locking the closure, a control member pivoted at the lower end of the container and extending into the container for cooperative engagement with an article of merchandise such as a bottle of milk placed therein, andcam means upon said control member for throwing the locking member to an unlocking position, ysaid locking member being so balanced that when the control member is inoperatively positioned the locking member will swing to a locking position with respect to said closure.

3. In a receptacle adapted to receive articles of merchandise such as bottles of milk, the combination of a container having a compartment therein, a closure pivoted at the upper end of the container, a casing extension vertically attached to the side of the container opposite the pivot connection of the closure, an elongated locking bar in the extension pivoted between its ends, detent means upon the upper end of the locking bar and upon the swinging end. of the closure for locking the latter upon the container, means to enable manual movement of the upper end of the locking bar to an unlocked position, said lock'- ing bar being so balanced as to automatically swing to a locking position, a bell crank lever pivoted upon the container having a lever end extending into the compartment of the container upon which an article of merchandise is adapted to rest to inoperatively position-thebell cranklever with respect to said locking bar so that the latter may move toa closure-locking position, said bell crank lever having a cam extension thereon cooperatively related to the lower end of the locking. bar for moving the locking 4bar to anunlocked position with respect to the closure when an article of merchandise is placed within the container with the lever end of the bell crank lever resting against the side of the article of merchandise.

4. In a holding receptacle for receiving articles of merchandise such as milk bottles and the like, the combination of a container having an article receiving compartment therein, a closure for the container, an elongated locking member pivotally mounted upon the container and extending 1ongitudinally thereof, means at the upper end of said locking member for locking the closure against opening, and a control member movably mounted upon the container within thel compartment having a cam extension for releasably holding the locking member inoperative, said control member mounting being such that the control member will normally assume a position to permit the lock ing position against an within the ing member to assume a closure lockand having a portion adapted to rest article of merchandise when placed container to position the cam extension in engagement with the locking member to hold the latter inoperative.

JOHN A. BENTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number smith Apr. 1, 1930 

